Our Beloved “Pops” passed away peacefully Sunday September 3rd at his home in Conroe, TX after a lengthy battle with cancer.
William Gerry Frampton was born to Max Gerry Frampton and Mary Leona Frampton on April 9, 1939, in Gunnison Utah. Gerry was the oldest of his five siblings, Mary, Evan, Connie, Gordon, and Judy. His family later moved to West valley where he attended Granite high school. Gerry was the center for the high school football team playing under coach Lavell Edwards. Gerry also grew up working on his family’s farm during the summer and enjoyed every moment there.
After high school, Gerry joined the National Guard in 1957 where he worked as a Heavy Equipment Operator and was a part of the crew that helped build Guardsman pass. He eventually stopped reporting for duty and the following December 1958 he was drafted into the Army. In the Army he was shipped to Dexheim Germany, where the TD18 International Dozer that he was supposed to be operating was not in service. He received permission from his superiors to start working on the dozer and in no time had it ready for service. He then joined up with the 82nd Airborne where he rigged up heavy drops to be dropped from C-130’s and of course jumped out of those airplanes too.
When he was discharged from the Army, he worked as a mechanic for Browning Freight Lines and used that as an avenue to start driving the big rigs. Gerry retired from driving trucks in 1999 with 350 million safe driving miles, a feat of which he was immensely proud of. Gerry was an avid hunter and fisherman and loved taking his kids and grandkids out with him. If Gerry was not fishing or hunting, he was working on his race car or out at the track racing. He also had a passion for horses and owned/raced a few over the years. He loved his western shows and his old western country music, he was a true country man at heart.
Gerry had five children, Troy, Pyper, Corey, Ryan, and Shelayne with his first wife, Judy. They were later divorced. Gerry fell in love with his soulmate Carma Rae Gardner, and they were later married for 20 years. Gerry was a proud grandpa to ten grandchildren and nine great grandchildren whom he loved each and every one of them with all of his heart.
“Oh the last goodbye's the hardest one to say, and that is where the cowboy rides away”
Gerry started working at the Soldier Creek Marina in 2002. It soon became his home away from home and even when he was not at work, he was gathering anything and everything he could to bring back to the store. Gerry would make his own lures to sell at the store and would direct anyone who asked to the best fishing holes. He was the heart and soul of Soldier creek Marina for many years, and he made many life longs friends while he worked there. During off season, he also spent time assisting his good friends at A-Rock Propellers in their shop and of course spending time with his grandkids.
In March of 2022 he moved to Conroe TX with his grandkids Spencer and Alyssa Hansen where he enjoyed every second of his life. In his own words “It’s where God wanted him to be.” He had so many great memories with all of them. He enjoyed working in the garden, shooting guns, reloading bullets, visiting Lake Conroe, breakfast at Waffle House, visiting their friends Ranch, and several happy memories at Santa’s Wonderland. He enjoyed being a part of their lives and watching his great grandkids grow up.
He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where he attended the Creighton Ward up to the last months of his life in Conroe TX. Gerry was ordained to the office of Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood on the 15th of January ,2023 and was sealed in the temple to his wife Carma on August 26th ,2023.
Gerry is survived by his siblings, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and his nieces and nephews. Gerry is preceded in death
by his parents Max and Leona, his sons Corey and Troy, his wife Carma, and his sister Mary.
We would like to thank his wonderful oncologists Dr. Yellapragada and Dr. Kodi, Amedisys hospice team, St. Luke’s Hospital, and the many home health nurses for the wonderful care they provided him. We would also like to thank all the many friends, family, and the church for their outpouring love and care to him and our family.
A memorial Service will be held in his honor on Friday, September 29th at 12:00 PM in the Chapel at Camp Williams Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park 17111 1700 W, Bluffdale, UT 84065 followed by Military Honors.
In lieu of flowers, we are asking for donations to help offset his final expenses. Donations can be made at America First Credit Union under his name William Gerry Frampton by phone or by visiting a branch, or made by Venmo by emailing alyssasteele@live.com
Friday, September 29, 2023 at 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM